LAST orders has been called at another Bolton pub.

The Brooklyn, on Green Lane, Great Lever, closed on Sunday and is now up for sale.

A spokesman for owners Joseph Holt said: “Sadly trade in The Brooklyn has been declining in recent years and we took the difficult decision to close it on Sunday, 5th May.

"We have a number of pubs in Bolton in which we will continue to invest and provide excellent facilities for our customers."

He added: "The Brooklyn is currently in the process of being sold and we are unaware of the purchasers future plans for it.”

The imposing building was built in 1859 and is a Grade II listed building.

The website What Pub comments favourably on the pub’s size and “pleasant surroundings”.

Its closure came as a blow to loyal regulars who took to the pub's Facebook page to express their sadness.

One wrote: "Normal people in society will never understand what a pub is to people like you two (and me). A home, family, history, timelines, memories .... bricks and mortar and 'the business' are small potatoes!"

A farewell party was held at the weekend.

Manager John Bradford described the pub as "beautiful" and said he had spent a "magical" time there with its "fantastic" customers.

In a farewell Facebook message he wrote: "Well guys that’s the end, been a fabulous weekend, in-fact it’s been a magical 8eight years. We are going to keep this short, why because we are really upset as we have seen how much this pub means to you all.

"God bless The Brooklyn and all who’s drank in her. All the very best to each and everyone of you."

Property firm Altus Group said around 76 pubs a month closed last year - nearly 1,000 in total. However, the rate of closures is said to be slowing.

Research by the group revealed the number of pubs has declined from 54,000 in 2010 to 43,000 in 2017.

In Bolton 95 pubs have closed since 1993. Among the casualties were historic venues like The Starkie Arms, in Tonge Moor Road, which was razed to the ground in December as part of plans to replace it with a supermarket.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Bolton has been left with around 4.4 pubs for every 10,000 people - lower than the national average.

For hundreds of years pubs formed the nucleus of towns and villages but factors like austerity and new research into the effects of alcohol on the health have contributed to their decline.

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